merziac

Exactly this and if you go into it clear eyed, often hard to do, you will be just fine.

Also, the screamin deals I have gotten far outweigh the eye watering ones, no deficit what so ever at this point in my mind.

bikingshearer 

What're you talking about? We're asked to date frames and bikes all the time.

bikingshearer 

I wanted a Cinelli in my size pretty badly, but not five-figures worth of badly.

Pompiere

My most expensive purchase was this Paramount frame. I have long legs in proportion to my height, so I thought the 63.5 cm frame would work for me. It had a fantastic ride, but I had to be really careful when dismounting. I rode it for a couple summers with an extreme French fit, and got my money back when I sold it. I saw it listed again recently in the C&V sales forum.


1984 Paramount touring frame

Kilroy1988 

Exactly $1,543 including tax and shipping from France to California. Photo shows it as received except for some fresh consumables I added.

-Gregory

merziac

The Strawberry was kinda close, retail, I paid nowhere near retail for any of it except the frame, again, well worth every damn cent.

rando_couche

Routens? What size?

Kilroy1988 

Yes, from right around 1950 with later modifications for the derailleur setup. It's 61cm center-to-top.

There is a long thread about the bike from when I purchased it last year and it was briefly for sale until I figured out a way to hang onto it for now. Looking forward to completing the restoration after I finish graduate school in December.

-Gregory

non-fixie 

I am not sure there is a politically correct answer to that question ...

Let's put it this way: I don't usually ride step-throughs, but I'd make an exception for this one if it were anywhere near my size. And it's a folder, so I think I would get away with it.

merziac

There was no politically or correct way to ask that question since it was ignorant of decent or proper context to begin with.

It may have been tongue in cheek but was in very poor taste if so.

majmt 

I’m glad you said that, but still I think that I’m winner of the stoopid-money-booby-prize. I gladly spent $2,100 (and would do it again) for this crusty beauty. Late 1970 or early 1971. Has the earliest of the first generation head tube decals. I think for now, I’ll just preserve the graphics and “patina’ and then see how it rides. It’s going to be an interesting winter project. I try to remind myself of Charlie Brown and his Christmas tree.

merziac

And I would gladly date and marry many of the fine frames here given the chance.

Rick_D

Would ask which Sacramento King owned it, but they did not arrive until 1985. Tall bike is tall.

Chuck M 

Your willingness to wed shows your intentions are honorable. If I were to offer to you a rusty Carabela, would you view that as a blind date with my homely cousin?

repechage

sizable discount to the asking price, good you did not pay that.
long ago, I bought a 1970 GC, paid big, it needed paint. Had been resprayed with later graphics. I had Brian Baylis paint it.
at some point soon I will put more than a headset and dropout adjusters to it.

Classtime 

My Medici was 17 years old when I paid $450 for it. The ready teller wouldn’t give me enough cash and I had to hunt for a check cashing place for the balance.

It’s also my Forever bike.

merziac

At this point with seriously dwindled resources after retirement, they will have to be charity cases and would need to be within reasonable driving distance, so maybe?

SW84

The most I paid was for my '84 Schwinn World. $64.57 at Goodwill. I've put an additional $150 into it to get it up to snuff.

Kabuki12

worth every penny , Rich . Of course it WAS your $$. That bike is all you!

merziac

@majmt

Was that seat salvageable?

Looks ok with some love and shoe polish from here on this side.

Kabuki12

No contest for me . It would be my 1975 Colnago Super . I bought it here from a fellow BF member so I was confident buying it from the other coast. One of only two bikes I ever bought without checking it out personally . It worked out and I ended up putting as much into it as I paid for the bike. Again, worth every penny. In three years I have already gotten the value of this bike . The ride is wonderful , the appearance? Well….

1simplexnut

Bought this a few years ago from France, for an eye watering amount of Euros (dont ask )
Was a bit of a saga to get it , after initially bidding and winning it on Ebay , only to have seller cancel the sale .
A contact in France was able to facilitate the sale and all was well in the end .



753 ex Peugeot team riders machine

rekmeyata

The most I ever paid for a sort of vintage bike was $40 for an excellent condition 1984 Fuji Club about 12 years ago that only had 5 miles on the bike! I eventually had to take off the Suntour ARX derailleurs, the rear derailleur never worked that great, I tried adjusting it, eventually took it to a shop, they adjusted and said it was working fine, but that the ARX series was never one of Suntour's shining moments. So, I took it off and put brand new Suntour Superbe Tech rear and Superbe Pro front I had in storage since the late 80's but never used. Now the bike shifts like a dream.

I did find a bike leaning against a dumpster, I spent about $120 on parts to restore it, not sure if that if that applies to your question.

Desert Ryder

The most I paid was for a bike I found on FB Marketplace at a price I couldn't refuse.
This is how I purchased it. Missing the rear srping perch collar. Original except for saddle and seatpost AFAIK

georges1

My most expensive frames so far are the Cannondale CAAD4, followed by the Billato built Vetta and the Fausto Coppi Legano



If I add the price of the whole components I am going to put on each bikes I am in the 2500- 3000€ for each bike maybe more. They are the build stage project but once finished they will be something exceptionnal.